Acting President Han Pays Respects at Myeongdong Cathedral Incense Altar for Pope Francis: "Practiced Love for the Disadvantaged"

"Left a Profound Spiritual Teaching and a Legacy of Faith"

Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, Acting President, visited the funeral hall of Pope Francis set up at Myeongdong Cathedral in Seoul on the 22nd to pay his respects. Photo by Yonhap News

Prime Minister Han Ducksoo, Acting President, stated on the 22nd, "Pope Francis has left a profound spiritual teaching and a legacy of faith to the Catholic Church and believers around the world."

According to the Prime Minister's Office, Han visited the incense altar for Pope Francis set up at Myeongdong Cathedral in the Archdiocese of Seoul on this day to pay his respects.

Han expressed, "I offer my deepest gratitude and condolences to Pope Francis, who always practiced love for the poor and the socially disadvantaged with humility and simplicity."

Pope Francis, who led 1.4 billion Catholics worldwide for 12 years since 2013, passed away on the 21st (local time) at the age of 88.

After paying his respects at the incense altar, Han gave an interview to a foreign media outlet specializing in economic affairs.

On April 24 at 9 p.m. (8 a.m. U.S. time), Choi Sangmok, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Economy and Finance, and Ahn Deokgeun, Minister of Trade, Industry and Energy, are scheduled to explain South Korea's response measures during the 'Korea-U.S. 2+2 Trade Consultation' with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Besant and the U.S. Trade Representative (USTR).

Earlier that morning, Han presided over a cabinet meeting at the Government Complex Seoul and stated regarding the U.S. trade consultation, "I expect that candid dialogue and cooperation between the economic and trade leaders of both countries will open the way to mutually beneficial solutions."

This content was produced with the assistance of AI translation services.